Cawood woman charged with assaulting school staff member

Published 8:01 am Wednesday, July 14, 2021

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A Cawood woman is behind bars for a second time after allegedly assaulting a school staff member at a local elementary school.

On July 6, Harlan County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Cawood Elementary School in regards to a woman assaulting a staff member. The woman, identified at Teresa Wells, 37, of Cawood, was seen attempting to run from the school by a deputy.

In his citation, the deputy said Wells was screaming and cursing, seeming to be “talking out of her head.”

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Wells allegedly pinned a custodian to a wall, also assaulting Superintendent Brent Roark and Director of Pupil Personnel Brett Johnson.

Wells is currently lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center on a $20,000 full-cash bond.

She is charged with third-degree assault (school employee/school volunteer), first-degree disorderly conduct and public intoxication of controlled substance (excluding alcohol).

Wells was also arrested before on charges stemming from another school-related incident involving Cawood Elementary, when she allegedly stole a bus from the school.

In September 2019, Kentucky State Police troopers arrested Wells after receiving a call a female had stolen a school bus and was operating the bus through Cawood.

Wells was charged with theft by unlawful taking (automobile; between $10,000 and $1 million), DUI, no operator’s license, no seat belt, speeding (over 20 mph), and license to be in possession.

She was later released in early December 2019.